Vented parachute with cone



Dec. 19, 1944. c, A, VO F 2,365Q230 VENTED PARACHUTE WITH CONE Filed May21, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I El] wonroz cwfiws TIA/V A Vol.5

Dec. 19, 1944. c, A. VOLF VENTED PARACHU'I'E WITH CONE Filed May 21,1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 cmws TIA/V A. Von,

Dec. 19, 1944. c. A. VOLF 2,365,230

VENTED PARACHUTE WITH CONE Filed May 21, 1942 s sheets-sheets Mm TEAM,MW,

Patented Dec. 19, 1944 T OFFICE VENTED PARACHUTE; wi'rn CONE ChristianA. Vlf, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 21, 1942, Serial No. 443,961

12 Claims. (01. 244-142) This invention is a parachute, consistingessentially of a canopy, and a cone supported centrally below the canopywith its apex pointing downwardly. I

The canopy is provided intermediate its outer edge and apex withdiagonally positioned vents, whichopen progressively with progressiveincrease of air pressure below the canopy to allow air to escapetherethrough and so relievesuch excess pressure. I I

The described vents are diagonally positioned and are in end-to-en-drelationship so that they form a zig-zag row extending around thecanopy. Each panel may containsuch a vent or, in a modification, onlyevery other panel will contain such a vent.

A similar type of parachute is-described and claimed in my copendingapplication, Serial Number 443,960, filed May'2l, 1942.

The parachute of the present invention also includes as an importantfeature thereof a cone positioned centrally below the canopy, this conebeing similar in a general way to that shown in my application SerialNumber 382,795, filed March 11, 1941. I

According to this invention, the cone may be,

a plain type of cone, or it may be provided with air escape vents of atype resembling the airescape vents in the canopy. In the cone, thevents may be in a continuous zi-g-zag formation as in the canopy; or,they may be only in alternate panels of the canopy; or they may behorizontally arranged at different levels in every other panel of thecone.

A parachute according .to the present invention presents the followingimportant advantages: I

1. It does not oscillate and swing during descent. I

2. It descends nearl vertically even with a fairly strong lateral wind.This feature is of great importance in landing at a designated point.The ordinary parachute will sometimes drift a mile or more laterallyfrom the point directly below the point at which the parachutist leftthe airplane. I

3. The parachute of the present invention will support heavier loadswith a given diameter of parachute.

4. It is stronger, weight for weight, than standard parachute, probablydue to the additional load carried by the cone.

5. The shock due to sudden checking of descent upon opening of the,parachute is lessened instant of opening and the descent so suddenly. I

6. The chute opens' very quickly, the cone ap parently acting as a pilotchute in spreading the air laterally, thereby spreading the main canopylaterally. I J v 7. Even with loads varying between and 300 pounds, therate of descent doesnot varymore than 5 feet a second, even with suchwidely varyingloads. i 8. Elastic shock cords connected to the apex ofthe cone aid in extending the cone and flattening the center of thecanopy and so aid in a quick opening of the chute. I

Further advantages of construction and operation will be pointed out inconnection with the description of the drawings illustrating severalembodiments of the invention. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is'a plan view of a parachute in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of amodification. I Fig. 4 is aperspective view showing the chute just afterlanding; and Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic side views showing modifiedforms of the cone member.

Referring now to these drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate I similar therefore do not check parts, the canopy indicatedgenerally at 2 comprises the usual series of triangular panels 4 definedby reinforcing cords 6 converging to a central ring 8 at the apex of theparachute. The

chute is also provided at the apex with the usual central air escapehole I 0.

Each panel '4 is provided with a diagonally ex-' tending air escape ventl2 bordered by reinforcing stitching M, the cloth 'of the panelpreferably being sewed around a reinforcing cord, not shown, secured tothe main cord 6. I

Considered in plan, the vents l2 are at about 45 with respect to thecords 6 and arediagonally positioned in end-to-end formation so as toprovide a zig-zag row of vents extending circumferentially around thecanopy.

Centrally positioned below the canopy is a cone 20 composed essentiallyof cloth with reinforcing cords 22 defining panels in the cone. Thelower ends of the cords 22 may be secured to a rin 24 while their upperends are continued as at 22f upwardly and secured as at 23 to thecanopy.

Referring now to the modification shown in Fig. 3, only the alternatepanels of the canopy because the vents'relieve excess-pressure at the 5are provided with diagonal air escape vents in-.

be met with when the parachute opens.

dicated at 12'. The intermediate panels are not provided with vents.

The cone 28, Fig. 3, is also provided with vents, which in this form ofthe invention are in every panel in staggered relationship; that is, atdifferent levels. One panel, indicated by the double ended arrows 2B, isprovided with an air escape vent .30. The next panel indicated withdouble ended arrows 32 is provided with an air escape vent at adifierent and lower level.

The nextpanel to the right of panel 32 is provided with an air escapevent 30" at the same level as vent 30'. The panel to the left of 28indicated by the double ended arrows 34 is provided with an air escapevent 30 at the same level as the other vent 30, and so on all the wayaround the cone.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the cone indicated generally at maybe provided with diagonal air escape Vents 42 arranged in endto-end,zig-zag relationship extending circumferentially around the cone. Shroudlines 43 in the surface of the cone extend up in a straight line and areattached to the canopy at 43'.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, every other panel of the cone 44 isprovided with a diagonal vent 45; the intervenin panels being plain inanalogy to the vent arrangement in the canopy Shroud lines 48 fromtheedge of the canopy are secured as at 49, to a harness forthe-parachutist. Heavy elastic cables or straps 50, attached at theirupper ends to the ring 24 at the apex of the cone, have their lower endsattached at 49 to the harness. This arrangement isv particularly usefulin opening the chute; the elastic straps 5n, when contracted, as indescending', pull out the cone, and it directs air upwardly andoutwardly below the canopy and aids in opening the chute; the cone lines22, 43 tension first and flatten the center of the chute and so aid inopening the chute.

The various arrangements may be combined in difierent ways, dependingprimarily upon how great a load the parachute is intended to carry.

The following combinations may evidently be made, in accordancewithparticular' conditions: l. Canopy with diagonal vents in every panelwith a plain cone. l

2. Canopy with diagonal vents in every other panel with a plain cone.

3. Canopy with diagonal vents in every panel with a cone having vents inevery panel.

4. Canopy with diagonal vents in every other panel witha cone havingvents in every panel.

5. Canopy with diagonal vents in every panel with a cone having diagonalvents inevery panel.

6. Canopy with diagonal vents in every other panel with a cone havingdiagonal vents 'in'every panel.

7. Canopy with diagonal vents in every other panel in combination witha. cone having diagonal vents in every. other .panel.

In use, the vents in the canopy will open progressively, in proportionto the amount of excess pressure existing below the canopy, there-' byrelieving the parachute of strain upon the development of such excesspressure as would These vents also aid in more prompt collapsing of theparachute just after landing so that the chutist is not dragged alongthe ground.

The purpose of the cone is primarily to direct air upwardly andoutwardlytoward the underside of the parachute, whereupon it changesdirection and escapes through the central opening 10. The velocity ofthis described body of air is quite high and it is believed thatactually more air passes through the opening ID with the use ofapplicants cone than when a cone is not used. At any rate, the use ofthe cone substantially increases the load carrying ability of a canopyof a given size.

Probably the most useful function of the cone is to cause the parachuteto descend nearly vertically. Actual tests conducted simultaneously withdummy loads launched from an airplane at the same instant, one loadbeing attached to a standard parachute while another equal load wasattached to a parachute of the present invention, the test taking placein a strong lateral wind, it was found that the parachute of the presentinvention landed nearly vertically below the point of launching, whilethe other parachute landed more than a mile from where the parachute ofthe present invention landed.

When the parachute of the present invention is descending in alateralwind, the cone is deflected by such lateral wind and this deflectionseems to cause a flow of air currents in and around the parachute thattend to counteract lateral drift.

While the invention has been described in some detail, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the details hereindescribed, and may be carried out in other ways.

I claim as my invention:

1. A parachute, comprising a canopy composed of a plurality of panels,certain of which are provided with vents which open automatically torelieve excess air pressure existing belowthe canopy, an air deflectingcone positioned centrally below the canopy, with its apex downwardly,and shroud lines connecting the canopy and cone to the load.

2. A parachute, comprising a canopy composed of a plurality of panels,certain of which are provided with diagonally extending vents extendingdiagonally from one recnforcing cord to the next adjacent reenforcingcord, which open automatically to relieve excess air pressure existingbelow the canopy, and an air deflecting cone positioned centrally belowthe canopy, with its apex downwardly, and shroud lines connecting thecanopy and cone to the load.

3. A parachute, comprising a canopy com,- posed of a plurality ofpanels, each provided with a diagonally extending vent which opensautomatically to relieve excess air pressure existing below the canopy,said vents being arranged end to end, therebyforming a zig-zag rowextending around the canopy, an air deflecting cone positioned centrallybelow the canopy, with its apex downwardly, and shroud lines connectingthe canopy-and cone to the load.

4. A parachute, comprising a canopy composed of a plurality of panels,certain of which are provided with ventswhich open automat ically torelieve excess air pressure existing below the canopy, an air deflectingcone positioned centrally below the canopy, with its apex downwardly,and shroud lines connecting the canopy and cone to the load, the largeend of the cone being open and its sides being provided with vents whichopen automatically to relieve excess air pressure existing .on eitherside thereof.

'5. A parachute, comprising a canopy composed ofa plurality of panels,certain of which are provided with diagonally extending vents istingbelow the canopy, said vents being arranged end to end, thereby forminga zig-zag row extending around the canopy, an air deflecting conepositioned centrally .below the canopy, with its apex downwardly, andshroud lines connecting the canopy and cone to the load, the large endof the cone being open and its sides being provided with vents whichopen automatically to relieve excess air pressure existing either sidethereof.

'7. A parachute, comprising a canopy composed of a plurality of panels,certain of which are provided with vents which open automatically torelieve excess air pressure existing below the canopy, an air deflectingcone positioned centrally below the canopy, with its apex downwardly,and shroud lines connecting the canopy and cone to the load, the largeend of the cone being open and its sides being provided with diagonallyextending vents which open automatically to relieve excess air pressureexisting on either sidethereof.

8. A parachute, comprising a canopy composed of a plurality of panels,certain of which are provided with diagonally extending vents which openautomatically to relieve excess air pressure existing below the canopy,and an air deflecting cone positioned centrally below the canopy, withits ajex downwardly, and shroud lines connecting the canopy and cone tothe load, the large end of the cone being open and its sides beingprovided with diagonally extending vents which open automatically torelieve excess air pressure existing on either side thereof.

9. A parachute, comprising a canopy composed of a plurality of panels,each provided with a diagonally extending vent which opens automaticallyto relieve excess air pressure existing below the canopy, said ventsbeing arranged end to end, thereby forming a zig-zag row extendingaround the canopy, an air deflecting cone positioned centrally below thecanopy, with its apex downwardly, and shroud lines connecting the canopyand cone to the load, the large end of the cone being open and its sidesbeing provided with diagonally extending vents arranged in end toend-formation, thereby forming a zig-zag row extending around the cone,said vents opening automatically to relieve excess air pressure existingon either side of the cone.

10. A parachute comprising a canopy, an air deflecting cone positionedcentrally below the canopy with its apex downwardly and with its base atapproximately the same level as the outer periphery of the canopy, theapex of the cone being closed except-for a small reenforcing ring.

at such apex forattachment thereto of load cables, and shroud linesextending at the same angle as the sides of the cone from the base ofthe cone to the underside of the canopy, whereby all the air engaged bythe cone is directed upwardly and outwardly toward the underside of thecanopy.

11. A parachute comprising a canopy, said canopy being provided withvents which open automatically upon increase of air pressure, an airdeflecting cone positioned centrally below the canopy with its apexdownwardly and with its base at approximately the same level as theouter periphery of the canopy, the apex of the cone being closed exceptfor a small reenforcing ring at such apex forattachment thereto of loadcables, and shroud lines extending at the same angle as the sides of thecone from the base of the cone to the underside of the canopy,

whereby all the air engaged by the cone is directed upwardly andoutwardly toward the underside of the canopy.

12; A parachute comprising a canopy, an air deflecting cone positionedcentrally below the canopy with its apex downwardly and with its base atapproximately the same level as the outer periphery of the canopy; saidcone being provided with vents therein which open autooutwardly towardthe undersideof the canopy.

CHRISTIAN A. VOLF.

